The rough conduct charge facing Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield prompted a heated debate on Footy Classified as to the guidelines for the AFL's Brownlow medal.

Dangerfield is one of the favourites for the award but is facing a one-match suspension if he takes an early plea, or two games if he contests the charge unsuccessfully at the judiciary.

Under the guidelines, any suspension would rule Dangerfield ineligible for the award and host Craig Hutchison questioned whether the "fairest" element should be removed from the "best and fairest" criteria.

"The best player tackled a little clumsily and can't win the Brownlow,' Hutchison said.

"I don't think anyone wants to see the best player in the game be ineligible for the Brownlow."

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Garry Lyon said he could understand the disappointment if Dangerfield was ruled ineligible but that didn’t warrant the criteria for the award to be changed.

"There will be an outcry if he loses it and I understand it but the fact is there are a number of prestigious awards in footy, the Brownlow medal is one of them, and it cops criticism because it is umpire-driven," Lyon said.